Mail notification device

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a novel device for notifying mailbox owners when their mailbox&#39;s door has been opened. The device includes a shaft slidably received in a housing which may be mounted to the mailbox. The shaft is based on a triggered position by a biasing means. The device is set by pressing the shaft against the biasing means and retaining the shaft in this position with a latch which may be mounted to the mailbox door and is operatively engaged with the shaft to overcome the force of the biasing means. When the mailbox door is opened, the latch retreats from the shaft allowing the biasing means to elevate the shaft so that the user can see it. In this way the user is notified of mail delivery or pickup.

This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/578,633, entitled MAIL NOTIFICATION DEVICE, filed Jun. 10, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to the art of apparatuses and methods for use with mailboxes, and more specifically to apparatuses and methods for use with notification systems that signal when the mailbox door has been opened, such as upon the delivery of mail.

B. Description of the Related Art

It is known to provide mailboxes with apparatuses for detecting and notifying individuals when their mailbox's door has been opened. These devices are particularly useful for those whose mailboxes are located some distance away, such that it would be difficult and inefficient to travel to the mailbox to determine whether any mail has arrived or the postman has collected outgoing mail. Existing apparatuses include electronic emitters that emit a sound when the mailbox door has been opened to a receiver positioned in the house and mechanical devices that purport to notify the owner when mail has been delivered, or at least, the mailbox door has been opened. The existing apparatuses are, however, generally difficult to install onto the mailbox, requiring extensive modification to the mailbox or special manufacturing processes, difficult to maintain, and fragile against the elements and repeated usage. Additionally, some known mailbox notification devices have limited visibility, for example, being visible only when viewed from one side of the mailbox. This can render these devices unhelpful to many mailbox owners who cannot rearrange the orientation of their mailboxes.

The improved mailbox notification device of this present invention provides an apparatus that is easy to install onto the mailbox, durable, and provides notification from all viewing angles. Therefore, the problems mentioned above are reduced in ways that are simple and efficient while providing better and more advantageous results.

II. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical mailbox equipped with the embodiment of a mail notification device of FIG. 1 but shown in a first position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical mailbox that is equipped with one embodiment of a mail notification device in a second position.

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of the mail notification device in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view of the housing of the mail notification device in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a typical mailbox equipped with a second embodiment of the mail notification device.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a typical mailbox equipped with a third embodiment of the mail notification device.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a typical mailbox equipped with a fourth embodiment of the mail notification device.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a mailbox 10 which is equipped with a mail notification device (“device”) 12 in accordance with this invention. In one embodiment, it is anticipated that the device 12 and method taught herein may be used in conjunction with a post-mounted mailbox (as shown in FIG. 2); however, the invention is applicable to other types and arrangements of mailboxes, and other applications, including boxes that receive newspapers. The exemplary mailbox 10 may include a body 14, a door 16 and a post 18. The door 16 of the mailbox 10 may be pivotally attached to the body 14 and may open downwardly, upwardly, or to one or the other sides. As shown in FIG. 2, the descriptions of the present invention generally relate to a mailbox 10 having a door 16 that pivots downwardly.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-4, the mail notification device 12 may include a housing 20. The housing 20 may have first and second housing ends 120, 121, an outer surface 21 and an opening 28, which may extend substantially through the housing 20 from the first housing end 120 to the second housing end 121. The housing 20 may be substantially tubular, as may be the opening 28, though other shape configurations of the housing 20 and opening 28 of the housing 20 may be selected. The housing 20 may be constructed of plastic or metal or any other material generally resistant to weather and suitable for use as an outdoor device. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the outer surface 21 of the housing 20 may be adapted to be attached to the body 14 of the mailbox 10. In this way, the selected portion of the outer surface 21 of the housing 20 may be shaped to receive the contour of the portion of the body 14 of the mailbox 10 where the housing 20 is to be attached.

As noted above, and as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the housing 20 may be attached to the body 14 of the mailbox 10, preferably on the outside surface 15 thereof, using attaching means. The housing 20 may be attached so that it is in a substantially vertical configuration, with the opening 28 also in a substantially vertical configuration. This allows for the shaft 30 (described below) to be in a substantially vertical position upon installation of the device 12. The attaching means may be of any type chosen with sound engineering judgment, but in one embodiment the attaching means may be an adhesive, such as tape used to join the outer surface 21 of the housing 20 to the outside surface 15 of the mailbox 10. Attaching means may also include mechanical fasteners, such as screws or bolts. Alternatively, the housing 20 may be welded to the mailbox 10 or formed integrally with the mailbox 10.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, the housing 20 defines an opening 28 which may be adapted to slidably receive a shaft 30. In on embodiment the color of the shaft 30 may be yellow, however any color can be chosen with sound engineering judgment that increases the visibility of the shaft 30. Examples of such colors include, but are not limited to, orange, pink and red, and fluorescent variations of these colors. In another embodiment (not shown), the shaft 30 may be adapted to illuminate, being provided with an integral light source, a power supply, which may be a battery, and a switch, which may selectively activate the light source in response to the mailbox door 16 being opened, the process of which is further described below. The shaft 30 may be cylindrical, though it may be any other shape suitable for being received in the opening 28. The shaft 30 may be constructed of the same or different materials as the housing 20. The shaft 30 may have first and second shaft ends 131, 132. For purposes of clarity, the first shaft end 131 is shown as the vertical top of the shaft 30. The shaft 30 may be longer than the opening 28 so that the first and second shaft ends 131, 132 extend beyond the respective planes of the first and second housing ends 120, 121. In one embodiment, the shaft 30 may have a sufficient length such that in operation at least the first shaft end 131 extends above the top of the associated mailbox 10 when the device 12 is activated by the opening of the mailbox door 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, there may be provided a first stop member 24 positioned at a first shaft end 131. The first stop member 24 may be attached to the shaft 20 or alternatively, it may be formed integrally with the shaft 20. The first stop member 24 may have a cross section that is larger than the cross section of the opening 28 at at least one point thereof so as to prevent the first shaft end 131 from falling past the second housing end 121, and, therefore, out of the opening 28. The first stop member 24 may be adapted to be illuminated in a similar manner as described above with respect to the illumination of the shaft 20. Alternatively, the first stop member 24 may be colored in a man similar to that described above with respect to the shaft 20 so that it has increased visibility.

As noted previously, and as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the shaft 30 may be slidably received within the opening 28. In operation, the shaft 30 may be selectively positioned in a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first shaft end 131 may by elevated in response to the mailbox door 16 having been opened and the device 12 having been triggered. In the first position, the first shaft end 131 may be elevated above the top of the mailbox 10 so that it may be seen by the associated user. The first position is depicted in FIG. 1. In the second position, the shaft 20 may be positioned lower in the opening 28, so that the first shaft end 131 is lower than it is in the first position. The second position may be the set position and is depicted in FIG. 2.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-4, the mail notification device 12 may include a biasing means 36 for biasing the shaft 30 in the first position. In one embodiment the biasing means 36 may include a spring 38, which may be positioned on the installed shaft 30 between the first housing end 120 and the first shaft end 131. The biasing means 36 may be restrained at the first housing end 120 by having a cross section that is larger than the opening 28 at the first housing end 120, and at the first shaft end 131 by having a cross section that is smaller than the first stop member 24 positioned near the first shaft end 131. The biasing means 36 may alternatively extend some distance into the opening 28 of the housing 20, being restrained at its lower end in the opening 28 at a point between the first and second housing ends 120, 121. Still in another embodiment, the biasing means 36 may be restrained at its top end at a point below the first shaft end 131.

As indicated above, the biasing means 36 may bias the shaft 30 in the first position. To set the device 12, force may be applied against the biasing means 36, until the shaft 30 is in the second position. The shaft 30 may be restrained in the second position by one of the means discussed in further detail below, until the device 12 is triggered by the opening of the mailbox door 16.

Methods for restraining the shaft 30 in the second position will now be discussed. In one embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 1-4, there may be provided a second stop member 26 positioned near the second shaft end 132. There may also be provided a latching means 40. The latching means 40 may have first and second ends 140, 141. The latching means 40 may be attached to the surface 17 of the mailbox door 16 adjacent the location of the housing 20, using attaching means. The attaching means can be of any type chosen with sound engineering judgment, but in one embodiment the attaching means may be adhesive tape joining the latch 40 to the mailbox door 16. The latching means 40 may be attached to the mailbox door 16 so that when the mailbox door 16 is closed and the device 12 is set by pressing shaft 30 downward against the biasing means 36, the first end 140 of the latching means 40 is in operative communication with the shaft 30, meaning that the first end 140 of the latching means 40 asserts sufficient force on the shaft 30 to keep the shaft 30 in the second position (depicted in FIG. 2).

Still referring to FIGS. 1-4, the operation of the mail notification device 12 will now be further described. FIG. 2 shows the shaft 30 in the set, second position with the latching means 40 operatively communicated with the SHAFT 30. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the first end 140 of the latching means 40 is placed in contact with the second stop member 26 located adjacent the second shaft end 132. More specifically, the first end 140 of the latching means 40 is engaged above the second stop member 26 so that the second stop member 26 is prevented from moving upward in response to the force placed on the shaft 30 by the biasing means 36. While engaged, the latching means 40 may restrict the shaft 30 from traveling to the first position. When the mailbox door 16 is opened, triggering the device 12, the latching means 40 may be released from its engagement with the second stop member 26, effectively removing the force that was maintaining the shaft 30 in the second position. With the force of the latching means 40 removed, the shaft 30 will be free to slide within the opening 28 of the housing 20 in response to the force being placed on the shaft 30 by the biasing means 36. As a result, the shaft 30 may travel to the first position. The shaft 30 may travel until it is stopped by the impact of the second stop member 26 with the second housing end 121. Alternatively, the shaft 30 may travel until the biasing means 36 can assert no additional force on the shaft 30.

In the first position, the shaft 30 may be visible to the associated user, indicating to the associated user that the mailbox door 16 has been opened. In one embodiment the notification may occur when the user sees the colored shaft 30 or first stop member 24 elevated in the first position. Alternatively, notification may occur by other means. For example, release of the latching means 40 from its communication with the shaft 30 may allow an electrical connection to be made between a power supply (not shown) and a light located in the shaft 30 or elsewhere, resulting in illumination of the shaft 30. In yet another embodiment, release of the latching means 40 may initiate an audible signal or other electrical and non-electrical notification systems. To reset the system, the user may press the shaft 30 to the second position, overcoming the biasing force of the biasing means 36. While the shaft 30 is being held by the user in the second position the mailbox door 16 may be closed and the latching means 40 may be operatively communicated with the shaft 30 to retain the shaft 30 in the second position until the mailbox door 16 is opened again.

With reference now to FIG. 5, in a second embodiment of a mail notification device, the latching means 40 may include a magnet 44 positioned adjacent the first end 140 of the latching means 40. When the device 12 is set, the magnet 44 may align with a magnetically attractive catch 144, which may be another magnet or a piece of material that attracts a magnet, such as a piece of metal, located along the shaft 30. Of course, the magnet 44 may be located on the shaft 30 and the magnetically attractive catch 144 may be located on the latching means 40.

In operation, this second embodiment is similar to the embodiment of the device 12 discussed above. In this second embodiment, when the latching means 40 is set, the magnet 44 may apply a magnetic force to the magnetically attractive catch 144, thereby retaining the shaft 30 in the second position. The strength of the magnetic force must be strong enough to overcome the force exerted by biasing means 36. When the mailbox door 16 is opened, the magnet 44 may move away from the magnetically attractive catch 144, removing the force that is retaining the shaft 30 in the second position. Due to the biasing means 36, the shaft 30 may slide in the housing 20 to the first position, thereby providing notification to the user. To reset the system, the user presses the shaft 30 to the second position with the mailbox door 16 closed, thereby operatively engaging the magnet 44 with the magnetically attractive catch 144.

FIG. 6 depicts a third embodiment of the mail notification device, wherein the shaft 30 includes a notch 46 adapted to receive the first end 140 of the latching means 40 in such a way as to allow for the latching means 40 to apply a downward force on the shaft 30 at the notch 46 in order to retain the shaft 30 in the second position. When the mailbox door 16 is opened, the latching means 44 may be released from the notch 46, thereby removing the force that is keeping the shaft 30 in the second position. Due to the biasing means 36, the shaft 30 may slide in the housing 20 to the first position. To reset the system, the user may press the shaft 30 to the second position with the mailbox door 16 closed, thereby operatively engaging or otherwise manually engaging the first end 140 of the latching means 40 with the notch 46. It is noted that the first end 140 of the latching means 40 may be adapted to fit into the notch 46, such as with a hook affixed thereto. It is also noted that there may be other ways to provide sufficient force between the latching means 40 and the shaft 30 so as to retain the shaft 30 in the second position when the device 12 is set.

With reference now to FIG. 7, a fourth embodiment of a mail notification device is shown. In this embodiment, rather than a housing 20 with a shaft 30, there may be a flag 50, which may include a flag shaft 54 having first and second ends 152, 154 and a signal 52 located at the first end of the flag shaft 152, which may be a fabric signal or a light signal or any other signal suitable for alerting the associated user when the device 12 has been tripped. The second end 154 of the flag shaft 54 may attached to the body 14 of the mailbox 10 so as to act as a pivot point 58 for the flag shaft 54. The attaching means selected may be chosen to allow the flag 48 to be selectively rotatable between at least a first, substantially vertical position and a second, substantially horizontal position. There may additionally be included a cable 56 attached to the flag shaft 54, at a point between the first shaft end 152 and the second shaft end 154 and to the mailbox door 16. While the length of the cable 56 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment, it should be long enough to allow the mailbox door 16 to close, and short enough to pull the flag 50 to the first position when the mailbox door 16 is opened.

Still referring to FIG. 7, the operation of this fourth embodiment will be discussed. FIG. 7 shows the flag 50 in the second position which is the set position. When the mailbox door 16 is opened, the attached cable 56 may apply force to the flag 50. The notification flag 50 may rotate around the pivot point 58 while the flag 50 travels to the first, triggered position until the mailbox door 16 is fully opened and the cable 56 stops applying force. At this point, the flag 50 may be in a substantially vertical position to notify the user that the mailbox door 16 has been opened. Friction between the flag shaft 54 and the mailbox body 14 may keep the flag 50 in the vertical position until the user manually resets the flag 50 to the substantially horizontal second position. Once the flag 50 has been lowered to the second position the flag 50 will remain in this position until the mailbox door 16 is opened.

The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: 

1. A device for detecting an opened mailbox door, comprising: a housing having first and second housing ends, the housing being positionably attached to the body of an associated mailbox; the housing having an opening that extends there through from the first housing end to the second housing end; a shaft slidably received within the opening of the housing, the shaft having first and second shaft ends a first stop member located along the shaft, the first stop member adapted to prevent the first shaft end from falling past the second housing end; a biasing means positioned along the shaft for biasing the shaft in a first position within the opening of the housing; and, a latch having a first latch end and a second latch end, the first latch end being positionably attached to the door of the associated mailbox, and the second latch end being releasably, operatively communicated with the shaft to retain the shaft in a second position when the device is set with the shaft in the second position.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first stop member is located at the first shaft end and is adapted to prevent the first shaft end from falling past the first housing end; and wherein the biasing means is spring.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the spring is located about the shaft between the first stop member and the first housing end; and wherein the diameter of the spring is larger than the diameter of the opening in the housing at at least one point along the opening.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein in the first position the first shaft end is elevated above the associated mailbox and wherein in the second position, the first shaft end is lower than in the first position.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein one or more of the first stop member and the shaft is a color selected from the group consisting of yellow, pink, orange, red, and green.
 6. The device of claim 4 wherein the shaft is adapted to releasably receive the second latch end when the device is set with shaft in the second position.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the shaft includes a notch adapted to releasably receive the second latch end when the device is set with shaft in the second position.
 8. The device of claim 4, further comprising: a second stop member located at the second shaft end, the second stop member adapted to releasably communicate with the second latch end when the device is set with the shaft in the second position.
 9. The device of claim 4, further comprising: a magnetically attractive catch located adjacent the second latch end, the magnetically attractive catch adapted to releasably communicate with the shaft when the device is set with the shaft in the second position.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the first stop member includes a light.
 11. A device for detecting an opened mailbox door, comprising: a flag, the flag comprising; a flag shaft having first and second ends, and a signal located at the first flag shaft end; the second flag shaft end being rotatably attached to the body of an associated mailbox; and a cable having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the cable is attached to a door of the associated mailbox and the second end of the cable is attached to the flag shaft at a point between the first and second flag shaft ends and wherein the cable has a length that is sufficient to cause the flag to be pulled from a first position to a second position when the door of the associated mailbox is opened.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the second position is a substantially vertical position.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the signal is a color selected from the group consisting of yellow, pink, orange, red, and green.
 14. The device of claim 12 wherein the signal is a light.
 15. A method for detecting an opened mailbox door comprising the steps of: providing a housing having first and second housing ends and an opening that extends there through from the first housing end to the second housing end, affixing the housing to the body of an associated mailbox; providing a shaft slidably received within the opening in the housing, the shaft having first and second shaft ends; providing a first stop member located along the shaft, the first stop member adapted to prevent the first shaft end from falling past the second housing end; providing a biasing means positioned along the shaft for biasing the shaft in a first, position, which is an elevated position; providing a latch having a first latch end and a second latch end, affixing the first latch end to the door of the associated mailbox, placing the shaft in a second position, which is opposed to the bias imposed by the biasing means; positioning the second latch end to be releasably, operatively communicated with the shaft to retain the shaft in the second position; and releasing the second latch end from communication with the shaft when the door of the associated mailbox is opened.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of positioning the second latch end to be releasably, operatively communicated with the shaft to retain the shaft in the second position, involves the step of: providing a notch in the shaft adapted to releasably receive the second latch end; and positioning the second latch end within the notch.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of positioning the second latch end to be releasably, operatively communicated with the shaft to retain the shaft in the second position, involves the step of: providing a magnet adjacent one of the second latch end and the second shaft end; providing a magnetically attractive catch on the other of the second latch end and the second shaft end; and aligning the magnet with the magnetically attractive catch.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the magnetically attractive catch is a second magnet
 19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of positioning the second latch end to be releasably, operatively communicated with the shaft to retain the shaft in the second position, involves the step of: providing a second stop member located at the second shaft end, the second stop member adapted to releasably communicate with the second latch end.
 20. The method of claim 15 wherein in the step of providing a biasing means positioned along the shaft for biasing the shaft in a first, position, the biasing means is a spring. 